TRPA releases mitigation funds for many projects

Water and air quality improvement projects around the Tahoe Basin will receive a nearly $3 million boost thanks to mitigation fund releases authorized by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency in 2007.

More than $2.9 million in water quality and air quality mitigation funds were earmarked for 15 Tahoe area environmental improvement projects during the year, the agency said.

Environmental mitigation funds are generated from fees paid by property owners to offset the impacts of their new development projects. The funds are then distributed to local jurisdictions by TRPA to help pay for larger-scale efforts to improve air and water quality. Among projects slated to receive a portion of the $2.1 million in water quality funds and $821,000 in air quality funds authorized for release between May and November 2007 are planned road improvements to the U.S. Highway 50/State Route 89 South Y intersection in South Lake Tahoe and erosion control projects associated with the Angora Fire rehabilitation efforts in South Lake Tahoe.

"The property owners who help fund these projects through the mitigation fees they pay are making an important contribution to Lake Tahoe," said TRPA Principal Planner Jeanne McNamara. "These funds are put to good use by the local jurisdictions to help in the overall effort to preserve and restore this special place."

The authorized funds are to be released to the local jurisdictions as each environmental improvement project moves forward according to conditions outlined by TRPA and agreed to by the local jurisdictions.

The projects authorized to receive mitigation funds during 2007 include:

• Rubicon Erosion Control Project, El Dorado County; $50,000 in water quality mitigation funds and $20,000 in stream environment zone restoration mitigation funds authorized May 23.

• Tahoe Pines Erosion Control Project, Placer County; $75,000 in previously released water quality mitigation funds authorized July 25.

• Beaver Street Erosion Control Project, Placer County; $62,000 in previously released water quality mitigation funds authorized July 25.

• Lake Tahoe Boulevard Basin Piping Project, City of South Lake Tahoe; $510,900 in water quality mitigation funds authorized September 26 as part of Angora Wildfire rehabilitation effort.

• Gardner Mountain Storm Drain Project, City of South Lake Tahoe; $308,600 in water quality mitigation funds authorized Sept. 26 as part of Angora Wildfire rehabilitation effort.

• Sediment removal project, City of South Lake Tahoe; $27,329.08 in water quality mitigation funds authorized Sept. 26 as part of Angora Fire rehabilitation effort.

• Kings Beach Water Quality Project, Placer County; $450,000 in water quality mitigation funds authorized Sept. 26.

• Tahoe Pines Erosion Control Project, Placer County; $150,000 in water quality mitigation funds authorized Sept. 26.

• Alternative fueling station/storage facilities project, Placer County; $393,240 in air quality mitigation fees authorized Sept. 26.

• Equipment purchase/ maintenance, Placer County; $180,000 in water quality mitigation fees authorized on Sept. 26.

• Bijou Area Water Quality Project, City of South Lake Tahoe; $6,000 in water quality mitigation fund interest authorized Oct. 24.

• South Y intersection transportation improvements at U.S. Hwy 50 and State Route 89, City of South Lake Tahoe; $428,000 in air quality mitigation funds authorized Nov. 28.